US 9,512,794 B2 · Noise, vibration and harshness reduction in a skip fire engine control system

Abstract

A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A powertrain controller for operating an internal combustion engine in a skip fire manner using an operational firing fraction that is fuel efficient and has acceptable noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics, the powertrain controller comprising:

a firing fraction calculator arranged to generate an operational firing fraction to deliver a desired engine torque;
a firing determination timing module that is arranged to generate a firing sequence used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner, the skip fire firing sequence being based on the operational firing fraction;
and
an NVH reduction module that is arranged to determine a smoothing torque that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device wherein the smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out a variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence, thereby reducing NVH that would otherwise be generated by the skip fire firing sequence.

1 more element

A method for operating an internal combustion engine in a skip fire manner using an operational firing fraction that is fuel efficient and has acceptable noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics, the method comprising:

generating an operational firing fraction to deliver a desired engine torque;
generating a firing sequence used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner, the skip fire firing sequence being based on the operational firing fraction;
determining a smoothing torque that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device wherein the smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence, thereby reducing NVH that would otherwise be generated by the skip fire firing sequence.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Noise, vibration and harshness reduction in a skip fire engine control system

Life of this patent

Noise, vibration and harshness reduction in a skip fire engine control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26